Camp Fantastic

Camp Fantastic

August 11-17, 2019

Started in 1983, Camp Fantastic is Special Love’s hallmark program, offering a week-long camp adventure. The magic of Camp Fantastic is described best by one young camper; “Camp made everything bad feel good again.”

“I work with children who have cancer every day,” said one pediatric oncology nurse at camp. “I’m always saying, ‘No, you can’t do that.’ That’s why I love helping at Camp Fantastic because it’s the one week I get to say ‘Yes’ to these kids. Yes, have some ice cream. Yes, play soccer. Yes, stay up a little late for the dance.”

The adventure these special children discover at camp is therapeutic in so many ways. By the end of the week of Camp Fantastic, the once-timid troupe of pediatric cancer patients has built a bond as strong as any these kids will ever experience.

Applications are mailed in late February to all eligible campers in Special Love’s database.

When Campers Return to Help Kids with Cancer

What Camp Fantastic Means to Joey

Directions to Camp

4-H Center: Take I-66W to the Linden Exit and follow 55 West into Front Royal. Turn left on 522 and go about 2 miles. Look for Route 604 on right.From Richmond and Southeast: I-95 North to the Falmouth exit and follow 17 North to Warrenton. Turn left on 211 West and take to 522 North (about 20 mi.). Turn right on 522, go about 10 miles, and look for Route 604 on left. Points North and Southwest: Take 1-81 to I-66 East. At Front Royal, take 522 South two miles beyond Front Royal and look for 604 on right.

Patients & Survivors

“I came to camp without my wig, knowing it would be a place where I could show my true colors and people would understand. The first year, I had just finished my chemo treatment, so it wasn’t the year with the most fun, but it definitely was the most important. It built up my self-confidence and filled my heart with love.” – Angela, Hodgkins lymphoma

The News, Straight from Camp

Our Camp Fantastic campers produced their own “newscast” as part of a camp workshop session!Day 1,
Day 2,
Day 3,
Day 4